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Gene Nelson 1920 - 1996

Gene Nelson of Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles County, CA was born on March 24, 1920, and died at age 76 years old on September 16, 1996.

Gene Nelson

Gene Nelson, Leander Gene Berg

Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles County, CA 91423

March 24, 1920

September 16, 1996

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Gene Nelson Gene Nelson (1920 - 1996)

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Gene Nelson's History: 1920 - 1996

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Introduction

Gene Nelson Born March 24, 1920 in Astoria, Oregon, USA Died September 16, 1996 in Los Angeles, California, USA (cancer) Birth Name: Eugene Leander Berg Height 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (1) Gene Nelson was barely a teen when he saw the Fred Astaire movie Flying Down to Rio (1933), which would change his life. It was then that he decided he would be a dancer. After graduating from high school, Nelson joined the Sonja Henie Ice Show and toured for 3 years before joining the Army in World War II. After he was discharged, he appeared in a handful of movies before 1950. He worked with Debbie Reynolds in The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady (1950), Doris Day in Tea for Two (1950) and Virginia Mayo in She's Working Her Way Through College (1952). He would be best known for his role of cowboy Will Parker in Oklahoma! (1955), where he would twirl the lasso to the tune of "Kansas City". After his dancing days ended he turned to directing TV and films, including two Elvis Presley movies, Kissin' Cousins (1964) and Harum Scarum (1965). For television he directed episodes of I Dream of Jeannie (1965), Star Trek: The Original Series (1966), The Rifleman (1958), The Donna Reed Show (1958) and many others. Spouse (3) Jean Martin (July 1990 - 1994) ( divorced) Marilyn Morgen (7 August 1958 - 1974) ( divorced) ( 2 children) Miriam Nelson (22 December 1941 - 8 June 1956) ( divorced) ( 1 child) Trivia (13) Had three children: Chris Nelson, Douglas M. Nelson, and Victoria Nelson Gordo. Was romantically involved with Maureen Reagan for several years, although they never married. He can be seen as one of the anonymous studio executives in the trailer for the original version of Miracle on 34th Street (1947). Nominated for a 1972 Tony Award for Supporting or Featured Actor (Musical) for his performance as Buddy in the original production of "Follies". First wife Miriam Nelson (nee Frankel) was a specialty film dancer from Broadway ("Panama Hattie"). Married in 1941, she worked in Hollywood while Gene served in the United States Army. He joined her later and she was instrumental in helping him work up his innovative dance routines on film. Second wife Marilyn Morgen was a studio secretary he married in 1958. She was 12 years his junior. Suffered a fractured pelvis in 1957 when a horse fell on him while on film location in Tennessee. Born Eugene Leander Berg, he went to Superior Court in 1964 to change his legal name to Gene Nelson as he wanted to use this for himself and his family. Made his professional stage debut as a member of the Fanchon and Marco Juvenile Revue at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles in 1935. He also studied tap with Nick Castle. He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7005 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on September 24, 1990.
03/24

1920

Birthday

March 24, 1920

Birthdate

Unknown

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

Gene Nelson ORIGINAL NAME Leander Eugene Berg BIRTH 24 Mar 1920 Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon, USA DEATH 16 Sep 1996 (aged 76) Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA BURIAL Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea MEMORIAL ID 76594220 · View Source
Early Life & Education

Washington.
Professional Career

Actor, Singer, Dancer, Director. Broadway Star. Movie Star.
Personal Life & Family

Served in the Military.
09/16

1996

Death

September 16, 1996

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Unknown
Death location

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Obituary

Gene Nelson Is Dead at 76; Athletic Hollywood Dancer By Dinitia Smith Sept. 18, 1996 See the article in its original context from September 18, 1996, Section D, Page 20Buy Reprints New York Times subscribers* enjoy full access to TimesMachine—view over 150 years of New York Times journalism, as it originally appeared. SUBSCRIBE *Does not include Crossword-only or Cooking-only subscribers. About the Archive This is a digitized version of an article from The Times’s print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. Gene Nelson, who played Will Parker, the blond, boyish, high-stepping lasso dancer in the 1955 film version of ''Oklahoma!,'' died on Monday at a hospital in Calabasas, Calif. He was 76 and lived in Los Angeles. He had been suffering from cancer, said his daughter, Victoria Gordon. Mr. Nelson, who was also a choreographer, performed as second lead in numerous Broadway and Hollywood musicals. He was an athletic dancer who in the course of his career danced on ships, up a banister and over a Volkswagen. In ''So, This Is Paris'' with Tony Curtis, he leaped high in the air while a bicycle zipped under his jack-knifed legs. Clive Barnes of The New York Times praised his ''flashily effective 30's-style acrobatic dance solo'' in the 1971 Broadway production of ''Follies,'' for which he won a Tony. Though Mr. Nelson was considered to have a good, light singing voice, he was frequently overshadowed by Gordon MacRae, with whom he appeared in ''Oklahoma!,'' ''Tea for Two,'' and ''Three Sailors and a Girl.'' Mr. Nelson rarely got the girl; that honor usually went to MacRae. Mr. Nelson, whose original name was Eugene Berg, was born in Seattle. His family moved to Los Angeles, where he was a gymnast and ice skater in high school. He once said that a Saturday afternoon spent at the movies as a teen-ager watching Fred Astaire dance in ''Flying Down to Rio'' changed his life and made him want to become a performer. In 1937, he joined the Sonja Henie Hollywood Ice Revue and made his first appearance at the Center Theater on Broadway in ''It Happens on Ice.'' You have 4 free articles remaining. Subscribe to The Times During World War II, Mr. Nelson toured with Irving Berlin's all-male ''This Is the Army,'' entertaining American troops in Europe. Then he moved back to Los Angeles, where he won a two-year contract with 20th Century Fox playing roles in ''I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now'' and ''Gentleman's Agreement.'' In 1948 he appeared in Gower Champion's production of ''Lend an Ear,'' which got him a three-year contract with Warner Brothers. There he appeared with Doris Day in ''Lullaby of Broadway'' and ''Tea for Two,'' which also starred MacRae. He appeared with James Cagney in ''The West Point Story.'' As Mr. Nelson aged -- at least in the terms of the dance world -- he tried his hand at serious dramatic roles. Failing to find success, he began directing films, including two with Elvis Presley, ''Kissin' Cousins'' and ''Harum Scarum.'' Mr. Nelson also directed episodes of numerous television series. He liked to tick them off on his fingers. ''Eight 'Riflemans,' '' he told The San Francisco Chronicle in an interview in 1992, ''32 'Donna Reeds' '' and ''24 'Mod Squads,' '' to name but a few. He was married three times, to Miriam Franklin, Marilyn M. Fields and Jean Martin. All of the marriages ended in divorce. In addition to his daughter, of Manhattan, he is survived by two sons, Christopher, of Burbank, Calif., and Douglas, of Los Angeles, and three grandchildren, all of Los Angeles. Correction: Sept. 20, 1996 Because of an editing error, an obituary on Wednesday about the actor Gene Nelson referred incorrectly to his performance in the 1971 Broadway production of ''Follies.'' He was nominated for a Tony Award; he did not win.

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Gene Nelson lived 3 years longer than the average family member when died at the age of 76.

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17 Memories, Stories & Photos about Gene

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

01/09/2020

Gene Nelson

A photo of Gene Nelson

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Laurie MacDonald

18 favorites

03/26/2021

Absolutely the best film dancer ever. He was versatile, elegant, graceful, and in addition to being a superb tap dancer, was also trained in ballet, gymnastics, ice skating...and could dance in any style. He had to be the most athletic dancer ever also. In addition, he was a superb actor (both comedic and dramatic) and a very good singer. I've always thought that he was a better dancer than either Astaire or Kelly. Gene Nelson was once of a kind.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

12/17/2020

Gene Nelson

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

01/09/2020

Gene Nelson

A photo of Gene Nelson with Virginia Mayo
By Michaela Owens . . .
Gene Nelson
I will never understand how Gene Nelson didn’t become a bigger star. He could sing; he proved his mettle as an actor in both comedic and rare dramatic roles; and he could dance like no one else. When this guy moved, it’s like his feet didn’t even touch the ground. And they often didn’t! In She’s Working Her Way Through College, he does a number in a gym that starts on a single dangling rope before seguing into basketball, gymnastics, boxing, and tap dancing. In Tea for Two, he flits up and down a staircase, including the railing. He just floats through the air in things like “The Farm off Old Broadway” and “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart.” What a ridiculously marvelous talent.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

01/09/2020

Gene Nelson

A photo of Gene Nelson

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

01/09/2020

Gene Nelson

A photo of Gene Nelson

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

01/09/2020

Gene Nelson

A photo of Gene Nelson

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

01/09/2020

Gene Nelson

A photo of Gene Nelson

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

01/09/2020

Gene Nelson

A photo of Gene Nelson

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

01/09/2020

Gene Nelson

A photo of Gene Nelson

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Gene Nelson's Family Tree & Friends

Gene Nelson's Family Tree

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Gene Nelson Mar 24, 1920 - Sep 16, 1996

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Other Biographies

Other Gene Nelson Biographies

Nelson, Gene Nelson, Gene (Feb 22, 1929 - Mar 18, 2012) Nelson, Gene (Jul 3, 1909 - Feb 12, 1971) Nelson, Gene (Sep 28, 1919 - Aug 18, 1956) Nelson, Gene (Aug 3, 1909 - Oct 31, 1999) Nelson, Gene (Dec 6, 1926 - Sep 15, 2000) Nelson, Gene (Nov 23, 1927 - Aug 31, 1999) Nelson, Gene (Feb 17, 1920 - Jun 27, 2010) Nelson, Gene (Jan 11, 1890 - Dec 1974) Nelson, Gene (Aug 9, 1957 - May 21, 2011)

Nelson, Gene (Feb 18, 1905 - Dec 1971) Nelson, Gene (Mar 27, 1935 - Jul 6, 2006) Nelson, Gene (Apr 7, 1930 - Mar 1982) Nelson, Gene (Jun 4, 1941 - Feb 3, 1998) Nelson, Gene (Aug 1, 1919 - Dec 3, 2005) Nelson, Gene (Jan 4, 1925 - May 1986) Nelson, Gene (Oct 28, 1921 - Sep 1985) Nelson, Gene (Apr 8, 1922 - Feb 1987) Nelson, Gene (Feb 10, 1930 - Sep 1977) Nelson, Gene (Jul 15, 1913 - Jun 1977)

Other Nelson Family Biographies

Nelson, Ross Nelson, Dora Ann (Born Oct 24, 1895) Nelson, Martha (Born Dec 29, 1920) Nelson, Earl (Born May 12, 1912) Nelson, William (Born 1886) Nelson, Alex (Born 1884) Nelson, Lena Mae (Born Jun 3, 1915) Nelson, Lee Veran (Born Jul 4, 1935) Nelson, Clarence (Born Jul 9, 1914) Nelson, Eleanor

Nelson, Nancy (Born Jun 15, 1836) Nelson, Myrtle (Born Jul 25, 1912) Nelson, Charles (Born c. 1798) Nelson, Jane (Born Mar 22, 1861) Nelson, Emma (Born c. 1861) Nelson, Fredrik (Born Feb 24, 1859) Nelson, Laurence (Born Aug 3, 1910) Nelson, Benjamin (Born Apr 10, 1915) Nelson, Margaret Lorraine (Born Sep 27, 1924) Burnson, Amelia (Born 1887)

About the AncientFaces Community

Gene Nelson 1920 - 1996

Gene Nelson's History: 1920 - 1996

Introduction

Birthday

Ethnicity & Family History

Early Life & Education

Professional Career

Personal Life & Family

Death

Obituary

17 Memories, Stories & Photos about Gene

Gene Nelson's Family Tree & Friends

Gene Nelson's Family Tree

Gene's Friends

Other Gene Nelson Biographies

Other Nelson Family Biographies